Indicating apparatus for passenger conveyor, indicating body used therefor and method of assembling the apparatus

Abstract

Indicating apparatus for passenger conveyor includes an indicating body arranged near a platform of the conveyor and outside a balustrade panel. The indicating body is located and secured at a position where the upper edge thereof is downwardly apart from a frame which is mounted on the upper edge of the balustrade panel for supporting a moving handrail.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor including a platform, a moving handrail, a frame for supporting the moving handrail, an upstanding balustrade panel having an upper end and a lower portion, the upper end supporting the frame, a deck cover covering the lower portion of the balustrade panel, and an upstanding indicating body disposed near the platform and outside the balustrade panel to define a gap between the indicating body and the balustrade panel, the indicating body having an upper end located below the frame, comprising: a supporting for supporting said indicating body, said support being structurally separate from said frame at the upper end of said indicating body, said indicating body support being secured to said balustrade panel and spaced downwardly from said frame, thus creating a free space between the indicating body and the frame.   
     
     
       2. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means provided at the upper end of said indicating body for closing said gap between the balustrade panel and the indicating body. 
     
     
       3. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a light source disposed inside said support for illuminating said indicating body. 
     
     
       4. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said support is provided on an inner side of the balustrade panel with an indicating portion which is illuminated by said light source. 
     
     
       5. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor including a platform, a moving handrail, a frame for supporting the moving handrail, an upstanding balustrade panel having an upper end and a lower portion, the upper end supporting the frame, a deck cover covering the lower portion of the balustrade panel, and an upstanding indicating body including an upstanding indicating panel disposed near the platform and outside the balustrade panel with a gap defined between the indicating body and the balustrade panel, the indicating body having an upper end located below the frame, comprising: a protecting body for covering an upper end of the indicating panel, said protected body being secured to said balustrade panel in a position downwardly spaced from said frame.   
     
     
       6. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor including a platform, a moving handrail, a frame for supporting the moving handrail, an upstanding balustrade panel having an upper and a lower portion, the upper end supporting the frame, a deck cover covering the lower portion of the balustrade panel, and an upstanding indicating body disposed near the platform and outside the balustrade panel with a gap defined between the indicating body and the balustrade panel, the indicating body having an upper end located below the frame, comprising: a support for supporting said indicating body, said support being structurally separate from said frame at the upper end of said indicating body and downwardly spaced from the frame, thus creating a free space between the indicated body and the frame; and   a caution body secured to said balustrade panel at a position downwardly spaced from said frame.   
     
     
       7. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor including a platform, a moving handrail, a frame for supporting the moving handrail, an upstanding balustrade panel having an upper end and a lower portion, the upper end supporting the frame, a deck cover covering the lower portion of the balustrade panel, and an upstanding indicating body disposed near the platform and outside the balustrade panel to define a gap between the indicating body and the balustrade panel, the indicating body having an upper end located below the frame, comprising: an upper support and a lower support for supporting the upper end and a lower portion of the indicating body, respectively, said upper support being structurally separate from said frame and secured to the balustrade panel in a position downwardly spaced from said frame.   
     
     
       8. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lower portion of said indicating body is located underside of said deck cover. 
     
     
       9. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a light source for supplying light to the indicated body, said light source being provided inside at least one of said upper and said lower supports. 
     
     
       10. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 7, wherein said indicating body is formed to have a plate-like shape. 
     
     
       11. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 10, wherein said indicating body is removably supported by said upper support and said lower support. 
     
     
       12. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 10, wherein said indicating body is recorded with an indicating content. 
     
     
       13. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the breadth of said indicating body is smaller than the length of said upper support. 
     
     
       14. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 10, wherein said upper support extends in a substantially horizontal direction beyond the indicating body in two directions. 
     
     
       15. An indicating body for use with an indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor having a platform, a moving handrail, a frame for supporting the moving handrail, an upstanding balustrade panel having an upper end and a lower portion, the upper end supporting the frame, a deck cover covering the lower portion of the balustrade panel, and an upstanding indicating body disposed near the platform and outside the balustrade panel to define a gap between the indicating body and the balustrade panel, the indicating body having an upper end located below the frame, comprising: a support for supporting the upper end of the indicating body, said support being structurally separate from the frame and being secured to said balustrade panel at a position downwardly spaced from said frame, wherein said indicating body comprises a reflecting portion.   
     
     
       16. An indicating body for use with an indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 15, wherein said indicating body is made of a transparent material. 
     
     
       17. An indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor including a platform, a moving handrail, an upstanding balustrade panel having an upper end and a lower portion, the upper end supporting the frame, a deck cover covering the lower portion of the balustrade panel, and an upstanding indicating body disposed near the platform and outside the balustrade panel to define a gap between the indicating body and the balustrade panel, the indicating body having an upper end located below the frame, comprising: a support for supporting the upper end of the indicating body, said support being structurally separate from the frame and being secured to said balustrade panel at a position downwardly spaced from said frame;   an illuminating lamp extending in a relatively longitudinal direction of said balustrade near said platform and outside the balustrade panel and secured to said balustrade panel in a region where said moving handrail runs in a substantially horizontal direction, said illuminating lamp being disposed at a position downwardly spaced from said frame; and   wherein said indicating body is illuminated by said illuminated lamp.   
     
     
       18. A method of assembling an indicating apparatus for a passenger conveyor, said conveyor having a balustrade panel supporting along an upper portion thereof a moving handrail with a frame disposed therebetween and being covered by a deck cover along a lower portion of the same, comprising the steps of: securing an upper holder to an outside surface of said balustrade panel at a position downwardly apart from said frame, and a lower holder to said deck cover, and then   fitting said indicating body between said upper holder and said lower holder.